Drink mixer



R. B. GILCHRIST DRINK MIXER Filed March 22 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l RAYMOND B. .QD'JCHEISE OIE' NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNIDB T0 TEE GILGHRIBT Y, 0F HARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW J i:

Application led Marek 22, 1922. erlal Nb. M.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, 4RAYMOND B. GTL- oHRis'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drink Mixers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention' relatesto drink mixers.

In machines for .this purpose, the liquid constituents of the drink to be mixed are usually poured into a receptacle which is generally designated a shaker, from many different containers disposed away from the mixer. The receptacle with these constituents therein is brought to the mixer and placed in operative relation thereto and is removed from the machine after each mixing operation, to discharge its contents. This is rendered necessary, because so many different ingredients and flavors are used in making drinks that they are, in nearly all cases, mixed individually. It is usually necessary to run the agitator for a considerable period to properly blend or mix the constituents and, therefore, it is desirable that provision be made for retaining the receptacle and agitator in operative relation to permit the dispenser to perform other duties during the mixing operation. In drink mixing, it thus becomes necessary to frequently l place the receptacle containing the constituents into cooperative relation to the agitator and to withdraw it from the machine to discharge its contents and cleanse the receptacle between mixing operations.

A desideratum in this art is to expedite and simplify the operations necessary to bring the receptacle and agitator into eooperative relation, to maintain them in such relation, in starting and stopping of the motor and the removal ot the receptacle. Heretotore. in machines whereof I am aware (excepting those exhibited in concurrently pending applications), it has been necessary in ,their 'use to manually manipulate the receptacle into operative position and withdraw it therefrom and to additionally perform some separate step or operation, such as lowering the motor and agitator together, or shifting the agitator and its shaft into the receptacle and relatively to the motor, or raising and locking a receptacle-support to establish and maintain cooperative relation of the receptacle and agitator or to control the operation of the machine. Another desideratum in this art is to simplify the mac hine by dispensing with movable connections in and for the driving mechanism for the agitator. L One object of the present invention is to provide an improved drink mixer in which these additional operations or steps are dispensed with and in which manual shift of the receptacle is utilized to completely control the operation of the machine and to secure it and the agitator in cooperative relation. By dispensing with the necessity of these additional steps or o erations, the time of the dispenser in per orming them is saved and the service is improved.

.Other objects of the invention are to provide: a receptacle-controlled machine which is equipped so that the receptacle can be manipulated to control its locking into opertive position around the agitator, its release for withdrawal, and the starting and stopping of the motor; a machine of this type in which movable Aconnections in and for the driving mechanism for the agitator are dispensed with; and a machine which is simple in construction, which may be easily and readily operated and which is eiiicient in operation.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more pariculafrly defined by claims at the conclusion iereo In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation The invention is exemplified in a machine comprising an electric motor 10 lot usual construction, to the rotor of which is secured a pendent shaft 11 with 'an agitator 12 lxed to its lower end; a hollow supporting standard 13 which is secured to a base 15 by a screw 16, an upper member 17 suitably secured in the member 13, and abracket 18 suitably secured to the upper end of member 17 to which the motor 10`is suitably secured, as at 19. The electrical connections for supplying energy to the motor 10 comprise a conductor-cord 20 leading through a handle 21 and comprising conductors 22 and 23 connected to the motor normally disconnected, switch-members 24 and 25 being included in the conductor 23 to control the operation of the motor. The casing of the motor 10 is fixedly secured to the support at 19 and the agitator 12 is maintained 1n substantially relatively fixed vertical relation to the motor.

A receptacle 26 having an open top, a closed bottoiu 27, a lower wear-band 28 and an upper wear-band 29, is adapted to contain the constituentsof the drink to be mixed and to be placed into cooperative relation to the agitator from beneath the latter, which is supported sufficiently above the base 15 to permit the insertion and Withdrawal of the receptacle.

The irivention contemplates placement of the receptacle into and out of operative relation to the agitator, locking and unlocking the receptacle and control of the motor by manipulation of the receptacle itself, so that shift of the motor or the agitator are not necessary to bring the agitator into working position in the receptacle. For this purpose, a stationary vertically extending receptacle guide 30 is provided for the back of the receptacle. The guide has its front face curved or arcuatein substantial conformity with the outer periphery of the receptacle so that when the latter is pressed backwardly against the guide, the receptacle will be guided against lateral movement and into its operative position without danger of striking the agitator 12.

A lug 81 extending forwardly from a lever 34 projects through and forwardly from the, receptacle-guide 30, to serve as a bottom support which is vertically positioned to hold the receptacle in operative position and to act with an upper abutment or hook 33 for locking the receptacle in its operative position around the agitator. Hook 33vis adapted to engage the inner periphery of the receptacle and lock the upper portion of the receptacle against forward movement. Hook 33 is disposed above the bottomqsupport 30 and at the rear of the receptacle, so that the weight of the front portion of the receptacle and the material therein will tend to hold the lower portion of the receptacle in its seat on the lug 31 and against the front of guide 30. Hook 33 is secured by screws 33 to a strip 13a and guide 30 is provided with lugs 31a which are secured to said strip. The latter is secured to the standard 13 by screws 13b.

For the purpose of automatically control ling the operation of the motor by manipulation of the receptacle, a switch-lever 34 has its lower end 35 formed to pivotally fit in the lower end of the standard-member 13 and on the plate 14, is extended through a slot 36 in front of the supporting standard and through a slot 37 formed in guide-member 30 and is provided with a cam-portion 38 which is adapted to be struck by the receptacle 26 while it is being raised into operative position and to be held in shifted osition as long as the receptacle is secured in its operative position. A stop-shoulder 34 is provided on lever 34 to limit the forward movement of the lever under the influence of spring 43, so it will be normally projected into the path of the receptacle the correct distance to operate the motor-switch. Lever 34 is also formed with a cam 39 in the hollow standard, to shift and control a plunger 40 which is slid'ably held in the hollow-standard and carries a switch-pin 41 at its upper end which is adapted to bridge the gap between the normally separated switchmembers 24 and 25 and close the circuit for the operation of motor 10. Switch-members A 24-and 25 :are secured to a block 42 of insulating material. Plunger 40 may be formed of insulating material, such as wood,

and is normally pressed downwardly by a n terial 44 suitably held in the upper end of n the standard-member 17. A wear-plate 45 is secured to the lower end of plunger 40. I

The operation of the machine will be as follows: Assuming the arts to be in normal position shown in 4ig. 1, the operator will place receptacle 26, containing the constituents of the drink to be mixed, against. guide 30 and under the agitator 12, as shown by dotted lines in said figure; will press it rearwardly with sufficient force to cause the fruide to laterally control its vertical movement and then lift it. In' this manipulation, the upper portion of the receptacle will slide on the front face of guide 30, Vv'hen the receptacle has been lifted sufficientlv, its upper margin will pass into hook 33 and its lower rim will be disposed above the bottom support 3l. l/Vhen the receptacle is released, its lower rim will fall onto support 31 and the receptacle will be thus automatically locked in cooperative relation to the agitator. In its upward movement, the receptacle will engage cam 38 and rock lever 34 about its lower end, so that cam 39 will raise plunger 40, cause pin 4 1 to bridge the switch-members 24, 25 and close the circuit for the operation of the motor 10 and cause it to rotate the agitator.

This occurs preferably before the receptacle reaches its operative position. Hook 33 positively holds the upper portion of the vessel, so that it will not be displaced by forward pressure of the switch-lever 34 which is under the infiuence of spring 43 which tends to hold the switch-lever normally in the position shown in Fig. 2.

A break the circuit and stop the motor.

to cause its bottom to clear support 31 whereupon the receptacle will be release for lowering movement.- Then, the operator will lower the receptacle and press it backwardly against the guide 30 while it is being lowered. When thereceptacle has been lowered suliicientlyto clear the au1- tator 12, it will be withdrawn forwardly away from guide-member v30. While the receptacle is being lowered, switch-lever 34 will be released and pass into its normal position to release plunge-r 40 and cause it to occurs preferably after the vessel has'been lowered sufficiently to bring the liquid therein below thel agitator, so that the latter will run for a sufficient period to discharge the adhering liquid by centrifugal force, into the receptacle.

The invention exemplifies a drink mixer in which manual placement of the receptacle into operative position causes it to be automatically loc-ked in such position; the placement and removal of the receptacle automatically control the switch for the motor; and in which the bottom-support for the receptacle is pivotally sustained by a member which is swung laterally to control the switch.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the' invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In fa machine of the character described, the combination of a support, an electric motor fixed to said support, an agitator driven by the motor and stationarily supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into its operative position around the agitator, and means for automatically holding the receptacle upon manual manipulation of the receptacle itself into said operative position comprising a bottom-supporting member shiftable laterally by the receptacle.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support, an electric motor fixed to said support, an agitator driven by the motor and stationarily supported from above with suiiicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into its operative position around the agitator, and means for automatically holding the receptacle upon manual manipulation of the receptacle itself int-o said operative position comprising a bottom-supporting member pivoted to swing laterally and shiftable by the receptacle.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support, an electric mo- This be tor fixed to said support, an agitator driven by the motor and stationarily supported from above with suicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be pla-ced into its operative position around the agitator, and means for automatically holding the receptacle uponmanual manipulation of the recept-acle'itself into said operative position comprising a bottom-supporting member pivoted to swing laterally and shiftable in one direction by the receptacle and spring means for retracting said mem- 4.. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a support, an electric motor fixed to said support, an agitator driven by the motor and stationarily supported from above with suliicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into its operative position around the agitator, means for automatically holding the recep-tacle upon manual manipulation of' the receptacle itself into said position comprising a bottom-supporting member shiftable by the receptacle, and a switch for controlling the operation'of the motor operable by said member.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support, an electric motor fixed to said support, an agitator driven by the motor and stationarily supported from above with su'flieient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into its operative position around the agitator, means for automatically holding the receptacle upon manual manipulation of the receptacle itself into said position comprising a bottom-supporting member shiftable by the receptacle, a switch for controlling the operation of the motor, and means shiftable by the receptacle itself to shift the switch before the receptacle reaches its operative position andto keep the motor running while it is in said position.

6. In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suiiieient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, means to slidably guide the upper portion of the receptacle while it is being manually shifted into its operative position, and a pivoted element provided with a support on which the bottom of the receptacle may be manually placed, arranged to swing laterally.

7 In a machine of the 'character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into opera-tive position around the agitator while the' latter is in said position, means to slidably guide the manually shifted receptacle into itsoperative position, a laterally swinging element provided wlth means on which the bottom of the receptacle may be manually placed and held, and a switch for controlling the motor operable by said element. f y

8. In a machine-oct the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and Supported from above with suicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open-top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter 1s in sai'd position, a laterally swinging pivoted member shiftable by the receptacle itself provided with a bottom support on which the receptacle will rest when it 1s manually placed in its operative position, and a stationary coacting member for holding the upper portion of the receptacle.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitatordriven by the motor and supported from above with sufiicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, a laterally 'swinging pivoted member provided with a bottom support on which the receptacle will rest when it is manually placed in its operative position, and a coacting member for holding the upper portion of the receptacle, said upper member and bottom support being retained against substantial vertical movement. V

lO. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suliicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, a laterally swinging pivoted member provided with a bottom support on which the receptacle will rest when it is manually placed in its operative position, avcoacting member extending into and for holdingthe upper portion of the receptacle, and a switch for controlling the motor operable by said pivoted member.

ll. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, a laterally swinging pivoted member provided with a bottom suport on which the receptacle will rest. when ltiis manually placed in its operative posiplaced on said shelf.

afieaeae w' f t tion, a coacting member for holding the Iup-t 12. In a machine of the character de-v scribed, the combination of a motor a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor andvsupport'ed from above with sufficient clearance to permit 'a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter .is in said position, a pivoted member provided with a bottom'support on which the receptacle will rest in its operative position, anda hook for engaging the inner periphery of thej upper portion of the receptacle, said support and hook being normallyretained in position to hold the receptacle in its operative position. 13. In a drink mixer of the 'class de# scribed, the combination of a supporting standard, a motor supported at the upper end of said standard, a spindle connected with the motor armature and extending vertically downwardly in front of said standard, a mixing button at the end of said spindie, a lever' structure 'pivoteda't its inner end inside of said standard below said buttonand terminating in front of said standard in a shelf for receiving a container, a clip at the upper end of Said standard for receiving the entrance edge of a container, an abutment on said lever structure, and circuit controlling springs inside of said standard in the path of said abutment to be controlled to close the motor circuit-when a container i 14. In a drink mixer of the class described, jthe combination of a supporting standard, a motor supported at the upper end of said standard a spindle connected with the motor armature and extending vertically downwardly in front of said standard and terminating in a mixing button, a lever structure pivoted at its rear endon said standard and terminating in front of said standard in a horizontal shelf for receiving a container, a circuit for said motor, and circuiting controlling contacts in the path of said lever to be actuated to close the circuit when a container is applied on the shelf, means normally holding' said lever structure away from said contacts whereby said circuit is normally opened, and means at the upper end of said standard for engaging with the upper edge of a container to cooperate with said shelf to suspend the lcontainer on said standard. y

` Signed at Newark, N. J., this 11th day of February, 1922.

RAYMOND B. GILCHRIST. 

